Hand Tool For Lifting and Moving a Car Stop

ABSTRACT

A hand tool for lifting and moving a car stop. The tool comprises a handle, a rod member having a main section perpendicularly fixed to the handle and an engagement section angled relative to the main section. A bracing member is fixed to the rod member for prevention of movement of the car stop relative to the rod member. According to one alternative embodiment of the invention, a pointed nosepiece is fixed to the rod member and may be used for clearing the retaining holes of a car stop of debris.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hand tools. More specifically, thepresent invention is a hand tool that allows a worker to quickly liftone end of a car stop and, in combination with a second worker liftinganother end, move the car stop to a new location.

2. Description of the Related Art

A car stop, or parking curb, is a durable, elongated block—typicallyconcrete or heavy plastic—that is tall enough to stop mostnon-commercial vehicles travelling at speeds typical during the act ofparking. These car stops, which typically have beveled surfaces angledrelative to the parking surface, catch the tires of the vehicle andimpede further movement. In addition, in order to effectively resist therepetitive impact from parking vehicles, car stops typically include atleast two retaining holes from the top surface through the body of thecar stop to the bottom surface positioned near the opposite ends of thecar stop. Lag screws or spikes may be disposed through the holes andinto the parking lot surface in order to prevent theft and/orinadvertent repositioning of the car stops.

Car stops are most often positioned at the interior end of a parkingspace—that is, the end toward which the vehicle is advanced—to limit themovement of a car past a predetermined position within the space. Forexample, for a parking space abutting a sidewalk, a car stop may beplaced proximal to the sidewalk to limit how far a car moving into thespace can advance, thus protecting the front of the car if the sidewalkis particularly high or some other obstruction which could damage thecar. Such placement would also protect those using the abutting sidewalkfrom inadvertently being hit by a car. Similarly, when two parkingspaces are positioned opposite each other so that their interior endsabut, such that a car advancing into one space could impact a caralready occupying the opposite space, a car stop is frequently placed atthe interior end of the spaces to prevent unintentional contact of onevehicle with the already-parked vehicle.

It is frequently necessary to lift and move car stops. For example, thisoccurs when car stops are transported from the manufacturer to alocation where they are to be placed. Likewise, car stops are moved andreplace when a parking lot is resurfaced.

In order for car stops to perform the desired function, they are heavyand not readily movable. As a result, injuries to workers are notuncommon. For example, concrete car stops typically weigh between 175and 200 pounds. Prior to the present invention, car stops were mosttypically lifted by hand. Setting and resetting the car stops exposefingers and toes to crushing and mutilation, as well as the possibilityof a severe back injury. Moreover, because of their weight andbulkiness, significant time is required to move car stops. It may take afour-man crew a full day to set 200 car stops on an asphalt surface. Byusing the present invention, a four-man crew could cut that installationtime to less than half a day.

Equally as important, use of the present invention will decrease theprobability of a worker suffering injury as a result of the heavylifting, which minimizes lost man-hours as well as medical expenses,which can range from hundreds of dollars for finger and toe injuries tothousands of dollars for back injuries.

Devices exist that are specifically designed for lifting concrete,masonry blocks, and other heavy objects. None of the existing devices,however, can be effectively used to lift and move a car stop. Thus, aneed exists for a tool to facilitate the safe and efficient setting andresetting of car stops.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,314 discloses a device for liftingcatwalk grates that comprises an elongated bent member attached to ahandle at a first end and having a pair of notched braces and a hook ata second end. The braces and hook together lock on to a grate and firmlyhold the grate during the transfer process. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,314col. 3 1.54 to col. 4 1.15. Furthermore, by positioning a tool at bothends of a section of grating to be moved, two workers are able to safelylift the grate section and relocate it without significant risk ofinjury.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,354,084 also discloses a lifting device having anelongate shaft member. A hook member is supported on a first end of theshaft member, and the substantially perpendicular configuration of thehook member permits a worker to lift heavy objects, such as concretesidewalk slabs and the like, by supporting them on the hook member. SeeU.S. Pat. No. 7,354,084 FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, FIG. 9C.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,608 shows a block lift for use with keystone-typeblocks. The lift includes an elongated rod having a first end coupled tothe top surface of a plate. The plate is positioned through an aperturein a block and turned so that it is moved under the block's bottomsurface. The block may be thereafter lifted by lifting the elongatedrod.

While these and other references disclose inventions that may be usedfor lifting heavy and cumbersome objects, none of the above inventions,taken either individually or in combination, discloses the presentinvention as claimed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a hand tool for lifting and moving a car stop.The tool comprises a handle, a rod member having a main sectionperpendicularly fixed to the handle, and an engagement section angledrelative to the main section. A bracing member having a crossbar and twodownwardly-angled prongs is perpendicularly fixed to the rod member.According to one alternative embodiment of the invention, a pointednosepiece is fixed to the rod member and may be used for clearing debris(e.g., leaves, dirt) from the retaining holes of a car stop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front partial sectional elevation of the hand tool engagedwith a car stop.

FIG. 3 is a side partial sectional elevation of the hand tool engagedwith a car stop.

FIG. 4 shows a car stop being moved by two workers using the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the engagement section frictionallyengaged with the car stop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The hand tool 20 comprises a tubular handle 22 and acylindrical rod member 26. A main section 28 of the rod member 26 isattached to the handle 22 with a weld 27 at a position midway along thelength of the handle 22 and extending perpendicularly therefrom.Preferably, the approximate angle Θ between the main section 28 and theengagement section 30 of the rod member 26 is one-hundred twentydegrees, but may vary in alternative embodiments. The rod member 26 alsocomprises an intermediate section 44 positioned between the main section28 and the engagement section 30 and angled relative to each.Preferably, the main section 28, intermediate section 44, and theengagement section 30 are integrally formed from a single piece ofcylindrical steel. In alternative embodiments, the main section 28,intermediate section 44 and engagement section 30 may be formed ofseparate lengths of steel which are then connected with welds or othermeans of connection.

The hand tool 20 also includes a bracing member 32 having a crossbar 34fixed (e.g., welded) to the rod member 26 proximal to the engagementsection 30. The crossbar 34 is oriented in a position perpendicular tothe rod member 26 and parallel to the handle 22. As shown in FIG. 1, inthe preferred embodiment, the crossbar 34 is attached to theintermediate section 44 at a position immediately adjacent the point ofjunction of the intermediate section 44 and the engagement section 30.However, it is anticipated that the crossbar 34 could be attached atvarious positions on the rod member 26.

Two prongs 36 angled relative to the crossbar 34 extend from each end 38of the crossbar 34. In the preferred embodiment, the crossbar 34 andprongs 36 are integrally formed from a single piece of cylindricalsteel. However, it is anticipated that the crossbar 34 and prongs may beformed of separate lengths of steel which are then connected with weldsor other means of connection.

A cylindrical steel nosepiece 40 with a pointed end 42 extends from therod member 26. In the preferred embodiment, the nosepiece 40 is joinedto the rod member 26 with a weld 41 and extends from the intermediatesection 44. However, it is anticipated that the nosepiece 40 couldextend from the rod member 26 at various convenient positions.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 in combination show the position of the hand tool 20when used to move a concrete car stop 50. FIG. 2 is a front partialsectional elevation of the hand tool 20 engaged with the car stop 50.FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the hand tool 20 engaged with the car stop50. The car stop 50 has an outer surface comprising a horizontal bottomsurface 59, a horizontal top surface 54, and vertical side surfaces 56.Two beveled surfaces 52 extend from the top edge of the side surfaces 56to the top surface 54. A retaining hole 58 is vertically disposedthrough the car stop 50 from the top surface 54 through the bottomsurface 59. Although FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are depicting only one end of thecar stop 50, it can be appreciated that the car stop 50 has an identicalopposite end having a second retaining hole.

The prongs 36 of the bracing member, which is joined to the rod member26 with a weld 37, are preferably angled downwardly at forty-fivedegrees relative to the longitudinal axis 53 of the crossbar 34.However, it is anticipated that the angle could vary. Preferably (seeFIG. 3), the angle Ψ formed between the prongs 34 and the longitudinalaxis of the engagement section is approximately twenty degrees. However,it is anticipated that this angle Ψ could also vary.

FIG. 4 shows the preferred embodiment 20 in use by two workers 61 movingthe concrete car stop 50. Prior to inserting the engagement end 30 ofthe hand tool 20 into the retaining hole 58, a worker 61 may, ifnecessary, clear debris from the retaining hole 58 by repeatedlydisposing the nosepiece 40 into the retaining hole 58. Thereafter, oneworker 61 stands at each end of the car stop 50 and positions theengagement section 30 of the hand tool 20 in the retaining hole 58. Asshown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, when the engagement section 30 is fullyinserted into the retaining hole 58, the prong ends 60 contact thebeveled surfaces 52. Thereafter, each worker 61 pulls upwardly on thehandle 22 to cause inward rotation of the hand tool 20 in direction R,resulting in frictional engagement of the engagement section 30 of thehand tool 20 with the car stop 50.

FIG. 5 more clearly shows how the inward rotation of the hand tool 20causes frictional engagement of the engagement section 30 with the carstop 50. As a worker 61 pulls the hand tool 20 upwardly, the engagementsection 30 contacts the interior sidewall 64 of the retaining hole 58near the top surface 54 at a first contact position 62 with a first sideof the engagement section 30, while also contacting the sidewall 64 at asecond contact position 66 with a second and opposite side of theengagement section 30. Preferably, the engagement section 30 is disposedfar enough into the retaining hole 58 so that the end 60 of each prong36 contacts the beveled surface 52 to stabilize and prevent rotation ofcar stop 50 about its longitudinal axis 70 during lifting and transport,as well as to prevent rotation of the engagement section 30 around itslongitudinal axis within the retaining hole 58. Similarly, when theengagement section 30 is fully inserted into the retaining hole 58, theangle Θ between the main section 28 and the engagement section 30 of therod member 26 is sufficient to allow the main section 28 to extendupwardly such that the handle 22 rests in a position that allows theworker 61 to grasp the handle 22 with only slight bending at the knees.Preferably, the length of the main section 28 of the rod member 26 issufficient to allow the rod member 26 and the handle 22 to extend beyondthe end of the car stop 50 such that a worker 61 can stand a shortdistance away from the end of the car stop 50 and comfortably grasp thehandle 22. In the preferred embodiment, the length of the rod member 26is approximately twenty inches, but this length may vary in alternativeembodiments.

After relocating the car stop 50 to the preferred location, the handtool 20 may be disengaged from the car stop 50 by no longer causingrotation of the engagement section 30 in direction R. The engagementsection 30 will thus disengage from the sidewall 64 of the retaininghole 58 and allow the engagement section 30 to be withdrawn from the carstop 50.

The present invention is described above in terms of a preferredillustrative embodiment of a specifically described hand tool forrelocating car stops. Those skilled in the art will recognize thatalternative constructions of such an apparatus can be used in carryingout the present invention. Other aspects, features, and advantages ofthe present invention may be obtained from a study of this disclosureand the drawings, along with the appended claims.

1. A hand tool for lifting and moving a car stop, the hand toolcomprising: a rod member having a main section and an engagement sectionangled relative to said main section, said engagement section sized tofit into a retaining hole in said car stop; a handle fixed to said rodmember; and a bracing member fixed to said rod member to prevent orminimize movement of said car stop relative to said rod member.
 2. Thehand tool of claim 1 wherein said bracing member further comprises: acrossbar fixed to said rod member; and two downwardly angled prongsextending from opposite ends of said crossbar.
 3. The hand tool of claim2 wherein said prongs contact an outer surface of said car stop whensaid engagement section is fully inserted into said retaining hole ofsaid car stop.
 4. The hand tool of claim 1 wherein said engagementsection is substantially straight.
 5. The hand tool of claim 1 whereinsaid engagement section is cylindrical.
 6. The hand tool of claim 1wherein said bracing member is welded to said rod member.
 7. The handtool of claim 1 wherein said handle is welded to said rod member.
 8. Thehand tool of claim 1 wherein the angle formed by said engagement sectionrelative to said main section is obtuse.
 9. The hand tool of claim 1wherein said main section extends upwardly and laterally from saidretaining hole when said engagement section is inserted into saidretaining hole.
 10. The hand tool of claim 1 wherein said rod member issteel.
 11. The hand tool of claim 1 wherein said bracing member issteel.
 12. The hand tool of claim 1 wherein said handle is a hollowcylinder having open ends.
 13. The hand tool of claim 1 wherein thelength of said main section is sufficient to allow the rod member toextend laterally beyond the end of said car stop adjacent said retaininghole when said engagement section is inserted into said retaining hole.14. The hand tool of claim 1 further comprising a nosepiece fixed tosaid rod member.
 15. The hand tool of claim 14 wherein said nosepiece ispointed.
 16. The hand tool of claim 15 wherein said nosepiece is weldedto said rod member.
 17. The hand tool of claim 1 further comprising anintermediate section between said main section and said engagementsection.
 18. The hand tool of claim 17 further comprising a nosepiecefixed to said intermediate section.
 19. The hand tool of claim 17wherein said intermediate section is substantially straight.
 20. Amethod of lifting and moving a car stop, the method comprising:inserting a portion of a hand tool into a retaining hole disposedthrough said car stop, said hand tool comprising a handle, a rod member,and a bracing member; rotating said portion of said hand tool withinsaid retaining hole; frictionally engaging said portion of said handtool with a sidewall of said retaining hole; lifting said rod memberwhile maintaining frictional engagement of said portion of said handtool with said sidewall of said retaining hole; and bracing said carstop with said bracing member to prevent or minimize rotation of saidcar stop relative to said hand tool.
 21. The method of claim 20 whereinsaid portion of said hand tool is an engagement section of said rodmember.
 22. The method of claim 20 wherein said frictionally engagingstep further comprises contacting said sidewall of said retaining holewith said portion of said hand tool at two contact positions.
 23. Themethod of claim 20 wherein: said bracing member comprises a crossbarfixed to said rod member and two downwardly-angled prongs; and saidengaging step comprises contacting said prongs with the outer surface ofsaid car stop.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the contacted outersurface of said car stop is two beveled surfaces adjacent a top surfaceof said car stop.
 25. The method of claim 20 further comprisingdisposing a nosepiece extending from said rod member into said retaininghole to clear debris prior to said inserting step.
 26. The method ofclaim 20 further comprising the steps of: lowering said rod member whilemaintaining frictional engagement of said portion of said hand tool withsaid sidewall until a bottom surface of said car stop contacts asupporting surface at a predetermined location; rotating said portion ofsaid hand tool within said retaining hole to disengage said portion ofsaid hand tool with said sidewall of said retaining hole; and extractingsaid portion of said hand tool from said retaining hole.
 27. A method oflifting and moving a car stop, the method comprising: inserting aportion of a first hand tool into a first retaining hole disposedthrough said car stop, said first hand tool comprising a first handle, afirst rod member, and a first bracing member; inserting a portion of asecond hand tool into a second retaining hole disposed through said carstop, said second hand tool comprising a second handle, a second rodmember, and a second bracing member; rotating said portion of said firsthand tool within said first retaining hole; rotating said portion ofsaid second hand tool within said second retaining hole; frictionallyengaging said portion of said first hand tool with a sidewall of saidfirst retaining hole; frictionally engaging said portion of said secondhand tool with a sidewall of said second retaining hole; lifting saidfirst and second hand tools while maintaining frictional engagement ofsaid first and second hand tools with said sidewalls of said first andsecond retaining holes; and bracing said car stop with said first andsecond bracing members to prevent or minimize rotation of said car stoprelative to said first and second hand tools during said lifting step.28. The method of claim 27 wherein: said first bracing member comprisesa first crossbar fixed to said first rod member and a first set of twodownwardly-angled prongs extending from said first crossbar; said secondbracing member comprises a second crossbar fixed to said second rodmember and a second set of two downwardly-angled prongs extending fromsaid second crossbar; said engaging step comprises contacting said firstset and said second set of prongs with an outer surface of said carstop.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein said contacted outer surface ofsaid car stop is two beveled surfaces adjacent a top surface of said carstop.